It was sometime in April when I broke the news to my mom. “They said I’ll be traveling for work to Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire,” I told her. She froze for a second. Then came the questions. “Are you going alone?” “Yes,” I replied. That was all it took. The classic mom-mode kicked in, and her concern doubled in seconds. “Did you agree to go?” she asked again. We could have gone on and on. She was nervous, protective, and trying not to show it too much. But that’s the kind of mom she is. My dad, meanwhile, played it cool. Quiet nod, and a gentle “good luck”, like most dads do. Fast forward to May. The African Development Bank (AfDB) Group Annual Meetings, held under the theme “Making Africa’s Capital Work Better for Africa’s Development,” were scheduled to take place in Abidjan, from May 26 to 30. I was set to travel on May 24, but by May 19, I still hadn’t received my flight ticket. I started to wonder: Was this trip really going to happen? Then, on May 20, I got the call. They asked me to choose between May 24 or 26. I didn’t hesitate, I chose May 24. I wanted to be there early, get my bearings, and not feel lost on D-Day. When the day finally came, “nervous” didn’t even begin to describe how I felt. My emotions were a tangled ball of excitement, anxiety, and all the unknowns rolled into one. My father dropped me at the airport. I flew Ethiopian Airlines, and despite the nerves, the journey was smooth. A short stopover in Addis Ababa, and then off to Abidjan. The moment we landed, the humidity hit me like a warm wall. Abidjan isn’t just hot—it’s really hot. As someone used to milder weather, I was melting, and fellow journalists found my struggle hilarious. We were met at the airport by someone from the “Euro Agency” (as promised in our journalist WhatsApp group), and a few of us were driven to our hotel—Ibis Styles Abidjan Plateau. On Sunday, May 25, we visited Abidjan Urban Transport Project (PTUA). It was impressive, not just in size, but in vision. A €567.7 million project co-financed by AfDB and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), aimed at improving urban transport. But more than that, it was about inclusive development. The kind that lifts whole communities. The big day had come, Monday, May 26, my first time covering such a large international event, and it was happening in another country. We headed to Sofitel Hotel Ivoire, where the meetings were held. We kicked off with a media breakfast with Akinwumi Adesina, the outgoing president of AfDB. He reflected on his 10-year leadership, his achievements, and the journey ahead for the bank. Most of the key sessions that day were closed to the media, so we followed them online. Still, just being in that environment, watching seasoned journalists, international delegates, and powerful conversations unfold, was eye-opening. One major lesson hit me that day: speaking more than English and Kinyarwanda is so important. My basic French helped me navigate, connect, and blend in. I made a mental note, French lessons, here I come! Tuesday, May 27 marked the formal launch of the 2025 African Economic Outlook Report. Again, most events were closed to the press, but some sideline discussions were open. I joined a session on the importance of Africa establishing its own credit rating agency. Later that evening, while heading back to the hotel, I took a moment to just look. Abidjan was beautiful. Busy, yes, but vibrant and full of character. I learned about Tour F, a skyscraper currently under construction, soon to be Africa’s tallest building. It was little discoveries like these that made the city come alive for me. On the next day, Wednesday, May 28, most sessions were again closed to journalists. But I attended a UNECA-led side event on how Africa can break free from the burden of debt. Afterward, since I’d made a few new friends, we decided to explore the city. With a local guide, we visited markets, bargained for souvenirs, and even received a few gifts from kind-hearted vendors. For dinner, we went to a local spot called Chez Tantine Alice. We ordered food stuffs we could barely pronounce, but it was delicious beyond words. New tastes, new friendships, new memories. Thursday, May 29 was the big day. The election of the new AfDB president. Sadly, the session was closed to the media as well. But as always, journalists found a way. We later confirmed that Sid Ould Tah from Mauritania had won, beating strong candidates from Senegal, Zambia, Chad, and South Africa. On Friday, May 30, we were supposed to have a closing press conference with the newly elected AfDB president, but it was cancelled at the last minute, which was a bit disappointing. Thankfully, we still had the chance to attend the beautiful closing ceremony. That experience will stay with me forever. As Adesina gave his farewell speech, the room broke into song. “We Are the World” and “I Can See Clearly Now” filled the space. I had goosebumps. It felt less like a conference and more like a celebration. That night, I returned to my room with a full heart. I was tired, but also so deeply fulfilled. There’s so much I’ll never forget, from the heat, to the food, to the friendships. But above all, I’m grateful for my work, because it made me realize how much I had stayed within my comfort zone. This trip opened my eyes, as a journalist, and showed me that there is always so much more to learn. To the AfDB team who supported us, thank you for making this experience smooth and memorable. Yes, journalists weren’t allowed into many sessions, and that’s something that could improve in the future. But the experience was still invaluable. To my bosses, thank you for believing in me, even when I wasn’t sure I believed in myself. This was my first work trip abroad, and it turned out to be the best experience of my professional life, so far. And to the friends I made, the lessons I learned, and the moments I’ll cherish, Abidjan, you have my heart.
